UEFA chief Platini to skip FIFA presidency rivalry

PARIS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- European soccer boss Michel Platini will not run against Joseph Blatter for the world governing body FIFA's presidency in 2015, said delegates of the 54 UEFA members on Thursday.

A source close to the board told media that Platini announced at a closed-door UEFA meeting earlier that morning to deny an intend of bidding for the FIFA leadership election in May as a candidate.

The French former soccer star reportedly said he would concentrate on the re-election as UEFA president.

"We went for peace. I think it is the logical decision," commented Iceland football association president Geir Thorsteinsson.

Blatter, 79, who had pledged to step down in 2015 a few years earlier, hosted a FIFA Congress in Sao Paulo in June before the World Cup in Brazil kicked off, saying that he is willing to continue making contribution to the world soccer.

Also at the Congress, most of the delegates voted against the proposal which calls for setting age limitation for the top leadership of FIFA.

The UEFA president has long been favored to run for the FIFA post, but widely considered to stand few chances to fight against Blatter, who gathers support from all other five confederations.